curveball

noun

curve·​ball ˈkərv-ˌbȯl How to pronounce curveball (audio)
: a slow or moderately fast baseball pitch thrown with spin to make it swerve downward and usually to the left when thrown from the right hand or to the right when thrown from the left hand
curveball verb

Examples of curveball in a Sentence

The batter struck out on a curveball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kai-Wei Teng then hung a 1-2 curveball to Kerry Carpenter, who launched it over the right-field fence for his third career grand slam. CBS News, 27 June 2026 The Rays swung at his curveball and changeup, but the pitches didn’t generate many whiffs. Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026 In the rubber match of the series, Paul Goldschmidt timed up a fastball in his first at-bat, then walloped a curveball in his second at-bat. Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 25 June 2026 And yet, summer 2026 seems to be throwing us a curveball. Marilú Almaguer, Glamour, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for curveball

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curveball was in 1936

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curveball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curveball. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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